Muscles Not Motors

Thanks for a great ride! Check out our Muddy Onion photo gallery here! (click on the first two galleries that read Muddy Onion 2017)

Onion River Sports presents the 6th Annual Muddy Onion Spring Classic

Saturday, April 28th, 2018!

Celebrate early spring in true Vermont style and come explore New England’s most beautiful, scenic and iconic dirt roads at this 34-mile fully-supported gravel ride. Then stick around afterwards for our famous post-ride barbecue—complimentary with registration! As for the ride itself, expect no less thanchocolate-covered bacon, maple syrup shots, early season burning legs, and a little gravel magic along the way…see you all Saturday, April 29th!

Start/Finish:

The ride will start at 9:30amin the Onion River Sports’ parking lot. Finish and post-ride meal will be in the shop parking lot, and Langdon Street will be open to foot traffic only (closed to all vehicles except bikes!).

Ride Options:

Maybe you haven’t put the miles in yet this season and your legs are still a little sleepy. Maybe you’re trying to get back to town in time for the afternoon Climate March. Maybe you just can’t go too far without the feeling of good hard pavement under your wheels. Whatever the reason, there’s no shame in a shortcut. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Hibernator, our new Muddy Onion short loop!

This ride begins with a few brisk climbs out of town on the regular Muddy loop, then mellows out along rolling dirt roads in East Montpelier and Adamant before making a vigorous descent back into town on Route 12 in Middlesex. Enjoy sweeping views eastward, a glimpse at a secret scenic pond, and a tour past one of the most picturesque farms in the region. This loop does bypass the Halfway Home aid station in Plainfield, but will include a beefed-up Catamount Trail Association aid station at mile 10 in Adamant so you can still experience most of the magic in half of the distance.

Aid Stations: Halfway Home station in Plainfield, CTA station in Adamant

Our field-tested Muddy Onion delivers all-day gravel with a robust dose of climbing. Earn your bacon on the back roads of East Montpelier, Plainfield, Marshfield, and Adamant before coasting back into town along Route 12 in Middlesex. Fuel up with woodchuck-themed tomfoolery at the mile 13 Halfway Home Aid station and again at the new-and-improved Catamount Trail Association aid station at mile 26, and enjoy charmingly mud-spattered Vermont views in between.

Special thanks to David Alden for this preview of our regular loop of the Muddy Onion 2016:

Pre-registration packet pickup:

Friday, April 27 from 9:00am – 9:00pm at Onion River Sports. Come join Salsa Cycles from 5-7 pm for a Pre-Muddy Onion Happy Hour during pre-registration and packet pickup at Onion River Sports! Check out some of their 2017 models built for events like this: Vaya / Warbird / Cutthroat / Mukluk!

After the Salsa Happy Hour and you got your packet, head across the parking lot to the world famous Three Penny Taproom to relax and enjoy some more of the region’s finest libations!

Day-of beginning at 7:30am – if at all possible, please plan to pick up your bib Friday. We’re expecting over 400 riders, and no one wants to stand in a line that long just before the ride!

Parking:

Langdon Street will be closed for the event. Please do not plan on parking at the shop, and please do not park on Main Street or State Street in front of neighboring businesses. Parking will be available in lots on Taylor Street as well as on-street along Court Street, Elm Street, and School Street. Click on the map below to enlarge.

T-shirts:

Commemorate all this gravel goodness with a men’s or women’s Muddy Onion t-shirt! Order online by 5:00pm Thursday, April 26 at bikereg.com or pick one up day of (while supplies last). $25 per shirt. Next Level Apparel Men’s in Macchiato and Women’s in Navy Blue. Vermont Gravel hats and t-shirts are unisex, Next Level Apparel in Vintage Black. Shirts are $25 and hats are $20.

Breakfast:

We’ll have amazing house-brewed coffee on hand at the event courtesy of Capitol Grounds—and if you’ve got a hankering for scrumptious sustenance pre-ride, head over to their cozy State Street location for breakfast sandwiches, muffins, pastries, and more. Or wander over to The Coffee Corner on Main St. where they have a great out-the-door menu that’s sure to please! The Doughnut Dude will also be slinging piping hot mini cider donuts from his mobile cart on Langdon Street pre-and-post-ride! Bring a few extra bucks for these addictive morsels!

Last-minute gravel fixings:

Need a better set of knobbies, a seatpack and flat fix kit, tires, or maybe even a brand new gravel bike to kick off the season? Onion River Sports is your go-to gravel resource! Stop in for special deals on gravel accessories for all registered riders all week long, including 10-20% off tires, bar tape, cycling clothing, and more. Just let us know you’ve signed up when you come in!

Want to reserve a rental for the ride? We have a limited number of gravel bikes available, and a great selection of flat bar hybrid bikes perfect for the Muddy Onion. Contact us to reserve yours today – or bring your existing road, mountain, or hybrid bike in and our friendly experts will help you outfit it for Saturday’s ride with our full assortment of gravel tires. Need help choosing? We have some advice here.

Follow the Muddy Onion on Facebook for more up-to-the-minute info! Look for more Onion River Sports events HERE!

We did mention 100% pure Vermont Maple Syrup shots?Chocolate Dipped Bacon! Photo by: David AldenWe’re happy to welcome 802 coffee this year to the Muddy Onion! Stay tuned for a bit of “grinding” of their own for this years ride!